By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
BENTON HARBOR – Area high school golf teams opened up their 2006 season on Monday at the inaugural Southwest Michigan High School Tournament of Champions hosted by Coloma High School.
Thirty-one schools invaded Point O'Woods Golf and Country Club to participate in the event.
The tournament was made up of three groups with 10 teams in each group.
South Haven captured the team championship with an impressive score of 322. Kalamazoo Christian was next in with a 326, while Kalamazoo Hackett was third with a 334.
Rounding out the top five were Mattawan with a 339 and Parchment with a 345.
Niles finished with a score of 352, while Edwardsburg shot 375 and Dowagiac shot 384. Brandywine finished with a 429 and Cassopolis finished with a 433. Buchanan shot 456 on the day.
Dowagiac was led by Kevin Proshwitz, who shot an 86. Nick Krizinski and Jared Schinske both finished with a 98. Richie Hutchinson shot 102.
The Chieftains are back in action today as they compete in the Centreville Invitational, which was scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m.
Tournament of Champions
Point O'Woods
Team scores
Group A
St. Joseph 399
Lakeshore 363
Kalamazoo Christian 326
Mattawan 339
Plainwell 347
Watervliet 549
Saugatuck 352
Fennville 469
Buchanan 456
Constantine 407
Group B
South Haven 322
Kalamazoo Hackett 334
Schoolcraft 362
Allegan 355
Edwardsburg 375
Parchment 345
Marcellus 381
Cassopolis 433
Berrien Springs 407
Three Rivers 415
Gobles 361
Group C
Coloma 359
Niles 352
Lake Michigan Catholic 495
Lawton 362
Vicksburg 347
River Valley 392
Brandywine 429
Bridgman 432
Dowagiac 384
White Pigeon 378